Relieving Nasal Congestion.

Nasal congestion, also know as a stuffy nose, occurs when the blood vessels lining the nasal passages become swollen and inflamed. This process can be due to many factors like allergens, viruses, infections, medications, certain body positions (being upside down) or even increased blood supply like in pregnancy.

Symptoms of congestion are basically the inability to breath through the nose and may be accompanied by a feeling of pressure in the face. This occurs when the swollen blood vessels in the nose tend to narrow the space where air is inhaled. With a narrowed space and increased suction while trying to inhale, a negative pressure system is created that causes the nasal flaps to collapse and further obstruct breathing. Also, the blood vessels that line the passages that connect the sinuses to the nasal cavity can become inflamed and block the sinuses from draining into the nasal cavity. This caused fluid to accumulate in the sinuses, causing the facial pressure, and sometimes leading to a sinus infection.

The treatment of congestion is primarily aimed at decreasing the swelling of blood vessels in the nasal mucosa in order to provide more space for airflow. Decongestants such as Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), Phenylephrine, Afrin, and Nasal Saline solution are some of the common over the counter remedies used. They act by constricting blood vessels.

Sudafed is an OTC oral decongestant that is very effective in treating nasal and sinus congestion. It comes in regular strength, 12 hour, and 24 hour dosing. One drawback to Sudafed is that it can make it hard for a person to fall asleep. This is were the regular strength or 12 hour dose can be taken in the earlier part of the day so their effect would wear out by the evening. Also, people with high blood pressure should not use pseudoephedrine because it can increase their blood pressure.

Afrin which is a nasal spray decongestant acts locally on the nasal blood vessels to relieve congestion. Its main drawback is that it can only be used for 3 days, because if it’s used longer it can cause rebound congestion.

Nasal Saline is a great natural remedy, especially for someone who doesn’t want to take medications or if certain conditions prohibit them from using decongestant medications. It is safe to use in people with high blood pressure as well as pregnant women because it has a local effect in the nose and not a systemic effect like the other decongestants.

In case of congestion due to an allergic origin, there are combination therapies using an antihistamine to help with the allergic reaction as well. Such products include Claritin-D and Zyrtec-D. One important side effect to bear in mind with antihistamine therapy is drowsiness. The only non-drowsy antihistamine available is Claritin. Concerning effectiveness, Zyrtec-D used to be by prescription only before it recently was released as an OTC. People with glaucoma, asthma, and prostate problems should not use antihistamines because they can make the condition worse.

Finally, you should always check with your physician before taking any OTC medications to make sure that it is safe for you to take them, especially if you are pregnant. Also, many of the OTC medications can interact with other medications that a person may be on, so you could also check with your pharmacist for any possible interactions.

Identifying Syphilis.

Primary Syphilis is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema Pallidum. It is transmitted through sexual intercourse and in the first stage of Syphilis. It presents itself as a painless ulcer-like lesion (chancre) on the male or female genital organs and it is very contagious. The chancre is like a pool filled with a bunch of Treponemas having a party in it, and it is the actual site where the infecting bacteria actually penetrated the individual. In the male it can be found on the shaft of the male genital or on the scrotum. While in the female, its can be found externally on the labia or internally on the vaginal wall or even the cervix. That is why a person should be very careful when having unprotected intercourse, because the lesion may not always be visible in the female partner.

The chancre usually appears 2 – 3 weeks after having intercourse with an infected partner. Most of the time people are embarrassed to go see a physician since the lesion is not painful and they anticipate that it will go away on its own. This is were some people make a big mistake because the chancre actually does go away on its own after 4 – 6 weeks, but now the infected individual goes into a latent period until Secondary Syphilis shows up.

Primary Syphilis has a good prognosis in an immune competent individual. It can be treated with Penicillin in an intramuscular injection, and the person can be cured. It is also very important that the infected individual notifies all his partners and have them seek treatment as well in order to eliminate the spread of disease. A good preventive measure to consider is the use of condoms during intercourse.

Reducing Burn Pain

Burns are common skin injuries that are caused from exposure to heat, sunlight, friction, chemicals, electricity, and radiation. They are divided into different degrees based on the depth of injury the cause to the skin layers.

First degree burns are the simplest type, because they only affect the outermost layer of our skin known as the Epidermis. They usually present as redness with little pain depending on the degree of exposure. A good example of this type of burn is a non blistering sunburn or a friction burn.

Second degree burns are more severe than first degree burns because the injury penetrates deeper into the second layer of skin known as the dermis. They present with redness, heat, pain, and blistering which is an important differentiating factor from first degree burns. Even though these burns blister, they rarely leave any scarring.

Third Degree burns are very severe because injury penetrates deeper into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue where hair follicles are embedded. This type of burn presents with complete loss of the outer layer of skin, damage to the full thickness of the dermis, loss of hair, and are painless due to nerve damage. This type of burn requires professional medical attention. It usually leaves scarring and may require a skin graft.

Fourth Degree burns are even more complicated and involve deeper tissues like tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

The proper management of treating burns is aimed at preventing infection, reducing pain, and promoting quick healing. As long as the skin is intact like in first degree burns, the chance of infection is rare. While in the case of second degree burns, the first thing to do is not pop the blister. Inside the blister is a sterile environment, and the skin that is under the blister is not ready to be exposed yet. So the longer you can maintain the blister the quicker that area will heal with less complication. In the case where a blister may get punctured and seep out its contents, do not peel off the flap of skin because is serves as a protective layer for the maturing skin under it. As an additional precaution to a punctured blister, you can apply a topical antibiotic (Neosporin, Polysporin) and a band aid on top to prevent exposure and contamination.

Reducing pain is another important factor in the management of burns. The approach varies depending on the size of the burn. In the case of sunburn, an oatmeal bath is recommended to soothe the skin. Then topical agents containing aloe and lidocaine (ex. Solarcaine) may be applied afterwards to keep the skin hydrated and numb the pain. An uncommon method to reducing burning pain in as fast as 15 minutes is the topical application of three colored toothpaste (ex. Aquafresh). This should only be tried at the time of the burn, if the burn has intact skin on it, and if it isn’t infected.

It usually takes about a week for the skin to heal and keeping the new skin moist will quicken it maturation and reduce scarring. Applying vitamin E oil on healing new skin is a good way, as long as one is not allergic to it. Another moisturizing agent that can be used is aloe.

Benefits of Ginger in Herbal Remedies.

Ginger is known mostly as a culinary herb, but its benefits are of a broader spectrum than just taste. The medicinal effects of Ginger are so potent that Ginger has been used for its health benefits for many years. Most spices are usually grown above the soil, but the part that has the most medicinal value in Ginger grows underground. Ginger can be found in various forms such as dried ginger and powdered ginger, but for the medicinal effects, fresh Ginger is the best.

Ginger has a protective effect in the lungs that helps stimulate the secretion of mucus, quieting your cough and soothing any irritation in the throat. It can also boost your immune system because it contains Vitamin C, Zinc and Magnesium. Ginger also contains antiviral, antitoxic, and antifungal properties that help in the prevention and treatment against the common cold. The warming effects of Ginger make it a natural decongestant as well as an antihistamine, making it the perfect remedy for colds. It also has an inhibitory effect on the replication of Herpes Simplex Virus which causes the common cold sore.
Ginger is also very helpful in the treatment of allergies because it acts like an antihistamine. It also has anti inflammatory properties and can be used to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and various other muscular disorders. The chemical components of the root are capable of inhibiting the biosynthesis of prostaglandins which are responsible for causing inflammation. Thus the root has proven to be a highly effective form of treatment, in some cases, even more so than the NSAID's that are traditionally prescribed.
Ginger has also been proven to treat nausea, especially nausea from motion sickness, morning sickness, and as a side effect of chemotherapy. Ginger contains special enzymes responsible for catalyzing the proteins in your food, thus aiding in digestion and the prevention of cramps as wells as helping to relieve constipation. Ginger has proven to help lower your cholesterol levels and prevent the formation of blood clots. Recent studies show that ginger might also have a role in lowering LDL cholesterol because the spice can help reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed in the gut. Another beneficial effect of Ginger is eliminating bad breath.
Ginger has many other beneficial effects. Ginger's cineole content may help contribute to stress relief by acting as a mood enhancer. It also helps in the relief of migraine headaches and may help in preventing cancer.
Ginger can be consumed as a liquid when prepared as a tea, or in food as an additional ingredient. Ginger is excellent in many dishes and is perfect when combined with garlic. Ginger doesn't only spice up your food it can also help to put some extra spice in your intimate life too. It improves blood flow to sexual organs.


Don't attempt to consume any products containing Ginger if you have any allergies to it, if you are pregnant, or if you are on any medication that might have an interaction with Ginger before consulting with your physician or your pharmacist.

Monitoring High Blood Pressure.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a silent disease that can cause extensive damage to many organ systems if left untreated. It is defined as a systolic blood pressure of more than 140 and/or a diastolic blood pressure of more than 90. It in not diagnosed based on one abnormal reading, but on 3 measurements over a period of time. It is divided into Primary (Essential) hypertension, and Secondary hypertension.

Primary hypertension is the more common form of high blood pressure. It is linked to many causative factors such as a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease, high sodium diet, smoking, obesity, and advanced age. It is usually doesn’t present with any symptoms until complications develop. It can affect many organs including the brain causing possible stroke and dementia. It can affect the heart causing left ventricular enlargement due to the high pressure gradient that the heart must work against. It can affect the kidneys causing renal artery stenosis, protein to leak into the urine and chronic kidney disease.

Secondary hypertension is due to an identifiable organic cause resulting in high blood pressure. It can be the result of kidney disease since the kidneys help in regulating our blood pressure, the use of oral contraceptives, in some heart conditions (Aortic Coarctation), and some endocrine disorders like Conn’s syndrome, Cushing’s disease, and Pheochromocytoma.

The best way to treat high blood pressure is by preventing its possible complications. The first step is by properly monitoring your blood pressure. The best time to take your blood pressure is before you get out of bed in the morning. When the person awakes, they should take their blood pressure while still lying horizontally in bed before they stand up. This reading would be very accurate because the body is at complete rest. Many times people walk into pharmacies and measure their blood pressure on the automatic machines and get fluctuating readings. This is due to the body being active (walking, running, stress) and suddenly sitting to measure the blood pressure. It is advised to place the arm in the cuff and sit for a few minutes to relax before taking the reading. Another good tip is to write down the time when the readings were taken and if there were any associated symptom at the time (headache, visual disturbances, etc.). Taking up to three measurements in a day is optimal and can help in choosing the proper therapy. Another important factor is choosing the right blood pressure monitor. There are many brands out there but key factors to bear in mind when choosing are having a backlit screen (easy to see without turning on the lights in the morning), automatic inflate (so you don’t need to exert any energy while measuring), irregular heartbeat detection (doesn’t diagnose an arrhythmia but brings it to your attention), and a proper sized cuff.

Treatment of Primary hypertension usually starts from lifestyle modifications depending on the severity. Weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking and reducing salt intake are the most common starting points to natural treatment. In more advanced cases where the natural approach isn’t enough, different prescription regimens are used. These medications include Diuretics, B-blockers, Calcium Channel-blockers, ACE Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor-blockers or a combination in some cases.

The main goal of all therapy is to achieve a healthy blood pressure level and avoid the complications of high blood pressure. This can be possibly achieved by regularly monitoring your blood pressure, eating accordingly, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking your medications regularly.

Influenza "Flu" Treatment

Choosing the right antiviral treatment may be confusing and understanding how some of the available antivirals used for treating flu work can help in deciding. Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) and Relenza (Zanamivir) belong to a class of antiviral medications known as Viral Neuraminidase inhibitors and are some of the current available flu medications.

Viral Neuraminidase is an enzyme that helps the virus in many ways. After a virus is inhaled, neuraminidase helps the virus penetrate into the cells that line our respiratory tract and cause disease. It promotes the release of virions from infected cells thereby facilitating the spread of the virus to other healthy cells. It also prevents inactivation of the virus by our respiratory mucus. It alters other functions of cells and the immune response causing damage to our cells.

Neuraminidase inhibitors like Tamiflu and Relenza selectively inhibit viral neuraminidase of influenza A, B, and H1N1 Influenza A “Swine Influenza”, while sparing the human neuraminidase which is important for our body’s normal function. These medications are used as a prophylaxis to prevent influenza or to shorten the duration of influenza if taken within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms. Tamiflu comes in an oral capsule and in an oral suspension form, while Relenza comes in an oral inhalation dosage form. An advantage of Relenza is that due to its mode of administration, by inhaling the powder into the lungs, it provides a high drug concentration at the site of infection, which may increase its antiviral effects and lower the chances of resistance. Other good practices in the treatment of viral flu are to maintain good hydration, and refrain from physical activity in order to decrease stress on the immune system.

There are some contraindications & precautions associated with taking these medications so always consult with your physician to see which therapy would work best for you.

Curing Ringworm "Skin Fungus"

Ringworm is a fungal infection also known as Tinea Corporis. It is a fungal infection of the skin that can evolve anywhere on the body except for the palms, soles, and groin area.

Ringworm usually presents as a rash. The rash may appear as a patch and have a circular shape. The lesion has raised borders and has a tendency to be scaly. Sometimes it may also appear as if its color in the center is fading. Another important factor to help in identifying Ringworm is that the affected skin doesn’t tan when exposed to sunlight like the regular skin around it.

The treatment of Ringworm is achieved by using topical antifungal preparations and by taking preventive measures to avoid it spread. Over the counter medications like Lotrimin, Lamisil, and Clotrimazole can be used to effectively treat Ringworm. In resistant cases prescription creams like nystatin, ketoconazole, and econazole may be used. An alternative to topical management is fluconazole which comes in an oral tablet preparation and is also by prescription.

Prevention is the best way to avoid Ringworm infection. Ringworm is transmitted by contact so personal hygiene is very important in preventing spread. Besides contact with affected people, pet cats are also a common source of infection. People should avoid sharing towels (fungus loves a moist environment) especially at pools. Sharing clothes or even bedding with a person who has an active infection may increase the risk of transmission. Washing the clothes and bedding frequently while the person is being treated is also a good practice.